China is closer to its goal of building a navy that can operate across open oceans, with pilots successfully landing on and taking off from the Liaoning, the country's first aircraft carrier, military experts say.

Dai Mingmeng, a squadron leader from an aviation regiment of the East China Sea Fleet, landed a J-15 carrier-based fighter jet on the Liaoning on Nov 23, a milestone for the People's Liberation Army navy. Following Dai, another four pilots landed J-15s on the carrier and later took off.

This is a landmark in the navy's efforts to develop combat capabilities for its carriers, said Du Wenlong, a researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Science.

The carrier-borne fighter jet is at the core of a carrier battle group, and success in landing and taking-off is vital as pilots further their training, said Du.

However, on Nov 25 the achievement was tempered by the sudden death of Luo Yang, 51, who headed the development of the J-15 jet. The CPC Central Committee has conferred on him the posthumous title of "national outstanding Party member".

Business

Factory profits rise sharply

Profits from factories rose at the fastest rate in 10 months in October because of increasing investment projects at home and a rise in export orders.

The National Bureau of Statistics said on Nov 27 that large companies (with annual income of more than 20 million yuan) reported profits of 500.1 billion yuan ($80 billion; 62 billion euros) in October, a jump of 20.5 percent year-on-year.

In September, profits rose at 7.8 percent, following a 6.2-percent drop in August.

The October figures are a "positive sign", said Liu Yuanchun, deputy dean of Renmin University of China's School of Economics. "They could send a signal to the government that there is no need for further stimulus, at least in the short term."

Safety

Expert says '45-day' chickens safe

An expert on animal nutrition has dismissed a Web report that said chickens used by KFC and McDonald's "grow too fast".

Ce.cn, an economic news website, claimed birds at the Suhai Group, a large processing company in Shanxi province, grow to full size in 45 days.

In the report on Nov 23, unnamed workers were quoted as saying they feed chickens additives and medicine that are "hazardous to humans", and said the company supplies large supermarkets as well as KFC and McDonald's.

But Hou Shuisheng, an animal nutrition professor with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said such a growth rate is safe and the result of successful animal husbandry.

Employment

Record number sits exam

A record 1.12 million people took the annual national civil service exam on Nov 25 after a drop in test-takers in 2010 and 2011.

Some 1.5 million people who registered for this year's exam passed the qualification assessment, and 1.12 million took the exam on Nov 25, according to the State Administration of Civil Service.

They are competing for around 20,800 positions in more than 140 state-level government agencies and affiliated public institutions and local branches.

High employment pressure, fierce competition for jobs and the chance of stable work are the main reasons why government positions are in high demand.

Rules in works to regulate interns

Draft regulations from the Ministry of Education have outlined stricter conditions under which vocational school students can undertake company internships. The move comes after Foxconn, the electronics manufacturing giant and Apple's largest supplier, admitted employing underage workers as part of an intern program at its plants on the Chinese mainland.

The draft, published on the ministry's website and open to public feedback until Nov 29, looks at the age of students, the types of company suitable to host interns and working conditions.

It also suggests that any internship should come with a signed agreement between the student, their school and the company involved.

Architecture

Concern over tallest building

Urban planners have slammed proposals to build the world's tallest skyscraper in China, saying it would be a death trap in emergencies.

Sky City, if built, will be 220 stories tall and stand more than 838 meters, higher than the 828-meter-tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world's tallest building.

Property developer Broad Group paid 390 million yuan in November for about 67,300 square meters of land in Changsha, capital of Hunan province. According to the company's website, the tower will house 4,000 families in apartments between the 16th and 180th floor, and have offices, a hotel, a school, a hospital, shops and stores, a gym and restaurants.

But architects say the residents would be vulnerable if fires broke out since ladders used by fire rescue crews can reach a maximum height of 100 meters.